Category Archives: Favorites

Essie – Brooch the Subject

Essie – Bangle Jangle

China Glaze – Purr-fect Plum

China Glaze – Awakening

Essie – Power Clutch

Essie – Mink Muffs

L’Oreal – Rainy Piccadilly

Sinful Colors – Rich in Heart

Essie – Armed and Ready

China Glaze – I’m Not Lion

My favorite season is right around the corner and I can’t contain my excitement any longer so to celebrate I decided to put out my nail polish favorites a bit early this year. I’ve been seeing/hearing around the blogging and YouTube community that bright turquoise will be a big nail trend this year which I’m super excited about because I’ve been loving bright teal/turquoise this entire summer and I’m not ready to give it up yet! Essie In the Cab-Ana is a good choice as well as my overall summer 2013 favorite China Glaze Too Yacht To Handle.

What are your favorite polish picks for this fall? Leave them in a comment below!

Katie

(As always I have linked each image to a Google Image search of nail swatches of that shade.)

1) Wet n Wild Single Eye Shadow in Brulee

2) Boots Facial Toner

3) E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit in Medium

5) Keri Lotion

6) Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched & Pink Punch

7) E.L.F. Clear Brow Gel

8) Burts Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

9) CoverGirl Clump Crusher & LashBlast Fusion Mascara (it’s a tie!)

10) Essie Good to Go Top Coat

I’m going to be totally honest here, it’s almost impossible for me to choose only ten products. I decided that instead of including honorable mentions I’m just going to post a few volumes of my top beauty products under $10. After I’ve finished posting my top bargain products I’m going to post my top over $10 products as well.

China Glaze – I’m with the Lifeguard

Essie – In the Cab-ana

China Glaze – Sun of a Peach

(No fun border around this shade because I cannot for the life of me find a color that is remotely close to this amazing neon peach. It’s so bright and beautiful!)

China Glaze – Flip Flop Fantasy

Pop Beauty – Mint Magic

Sally Hansen – Pacific Blue

Julie G – 9 to 5

China Glaze – Too Yacht to Handle

Spoiled – Did I Dye it Too Blonde

Funky Fingers – Kingston

As you can see I’m a bit of a neon girl! I love me some bright nails and may or may not be guilty of wearing them year round. What are some of your favorite nail polishes for summer? Leave them in a comment below!

Katie

P.S. All images are linked to a Google Images search which will give you a more accurate picture of the colors. My camera doesn’t like to capture the true beauty of neon polishes!

Revlon Whipped Cream Makeup

After seeing everyone and their mother raving about this foundation I finally decided to pick it up and see what all the fuss was about and I loveee it! I’m not a big foundation wearer but this product is amazing. It goes on with little effort and looks so natural. The whole process of applying it is easier than what I was previously doing by applying concealer on my problem spots and blending. With this I just quickly blend it all over my face with a Sigma F80 Kabuki brush then apply a little concealer to my under eye area and I’m done! It’s amazing, you need it.

E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit

I picked this eyebrow kit up because I was intrigued by the gel side and after trying it for a while I’ve decided I really like it! The best part is it’s only THREE DOLLARS! You can’t beat that!

Benefit Sugarbomb Blush

This is my first blush from Benefit and I’m officially obsessed. Sugarbomb adds a gorgeous, natural glow to the face. I think this shade compliments everyday natural makeup perfectly. It’s definitely a must have!

Maybelline Baby Lips in Melon Mania

So far I’ve liked every Baby Lips I’ve tried and this limited edition shade is no exception! If you can still find it I’d recommend you grab it and QUICK!

Aladdin One Handed Water Bottle

Another impulsive purchase that paid off! Woohooooo!

Anywho, what I’m about to say might shock you but… I used to drink nothing all day. Literally nothing and that is obviously a huge problem. I bought this water bottle on a whim because I thought it would be perfect to stand up in my backpack without spilling and I love that you can drink from it without having to open an annoying lid every time. Basically I’m extremely lazy but it paid off because I love, love, love it! The bottle holds a little over 24 oz. and on the side are markings in 3 oz. increments so you know exactly how much you’re drinking. Ever since I bought this water bottle I’ve been drinking so much more throughout the day! I usually drink around 1 1/2 – 2 bottles a day now so around 36 – 48 oz. which is amazing for me! I’d HIGHLY recommend this water bottle!

Yes, I just raved about a water bottle. Don’t judge me!

Dole Banana Dippers

Frozen chocolate covered bananas are a rediscovered obsession of mine. I forgot how much I love these things! They’re so darn good and these portion control packs are amazingly convenient! Although I must admit I usually eat two packs at once but hey, they’re low cal and all that jazz so I allow myself to have two without feeling too guilty!

Favorite Snack/Lunch

These garlic and herb cheese wedges are soooooo yummy! For a snack I’ll dip pretzels in it or for lunch I’ll have the it again with pretzels, a side of turkey pepperoni or turkey slices and some fruit. Delicious!

Favorite Songs

Favorite TV Show

I finally caught up on last season (Netflix) and just in time! The new season started last night (March 10th) so hopefully I can keep up with it this time and not have to catch up once it’s over! Wish me luck…

That’s all for February! If you have any favorites you’d like to share leave a comment. I’d love to hear
about your must haves from February!

I know, I know, I’m really late on my January favorites but I figured better late than never! Let’s get started!

Favorite Lip Combo

Lately I have been pairing Revlon’s LipButter in Sugar Plum with Stila’s Lip Glaze in Tropical Punch. It creates a gorgeous plum colored lip which I think is perfect for winter.

Lorac Pro Palette

Although I’m more of a matte eye shadow kind of girl, I’ve been using some shimmers and satins this month as well. I’ve been trying to use all the makeup I have so it’s not just sitting around collecting dust so I brought out my Lorac Pro palette. Of course I love the entire top row of the palette since it’s all matte but my favorites from the bottom, shimmery row are Lt. Bronze, Pewter and Garnet. If you don’t already have this palette I’d highly recommend you check it out but just a small warning; it does have a bit of fall out, so you’ll need to tap the excess off your brush before using.

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

I literally do not have the words to describe my love for this product but I will try! MAC’s Paint Pot in Painterly is amazingggg! I don’t know what took me so long to purchase this product but boy am I glad I finally did! This is pretty much the only eye shadow primer/base I’ve used since I bought it in early January and I swear I will never be without it again. If you’re looking for a base/primer I would definitely recommend trying this one over any others because it truly made my eye shadow last all day without any fading. MAC also has a ton of other colors and finishes available so don’t fret if Painterly doesn’t suit you well!

Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Primer

I’ve never really been into full face primers before but my lovely friend Tiffany from Villabeautiful.com sent me this in a mini sample set so I decided to give it a try and I’ve been loving it! I feel like it’s really been helping my face makeup stay on all day and most importantly it doesn’t feel overly grease/siliconey when I apply it.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub

I have been hearing about this product on YouTube for about a year now so I finally decided to pick it up myself and see what all the hype was about. I’m also not sure what it took me so long to buy this product because it’s really inexpensive at only $3 and it leaves my skin feels so so soooo soft and smooth. Buy it, that’s all.

Merry Cookie Candle

Yes I realize Christmas is over but that’s not stopping me from burning this yummy candle! I would say it smells more like the average birthday cake or vanilla cupcake candle then a cookie but I don’t mind because those are my favorites!

Godiva Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt

Let me prefix this favorite by saying I absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, HATE dark chocolate. However, last month my mom was eating this Godiva dark chocolate with sea salt so I tried a little bit and fell in love! I’m a sweet and salty person so this combination is right up my alley! I buy mine at Target for around $3.50. Target also has a Lindt dark chocolate with sea salt bar but trust me, it is NOT the same. It’s a little bit cheaper but it has 20% more cacao so it’s wayyyy more bitter than the Godiva chocolate. Just splurge and go for the Godiva. I promise you, you will not regret it!

Well that wraps up my January favorites! I really hope you’ll try some of these products out because as you can tell I’m slightly obsessed. If you have any favorites you’d like to share leave a comment. I’d love to hear about your must haves from January!

I know, I know I’ve been M.I.A. this past month and you know what? I have zero excuses! I have been extremely lazy and enjoying my break from school this past 6 weeks but I’m back now and excited for big things in 2013. I’m designing a new logo and once it’s ready (and by ready I mean perfect) I’ll be getting an accompanying new layout for Beauty and the Sweets as well. Until then… here’s are favorites from 2012!

Face

Top L to R:

Kirkland Daily Facial Cleansing Wipes: I used Neutrogena wipes for years and years until I heard ItsJudyTime talk about these Kirkland brand wipes in one of her YouTube Videos and since my family has a Costco membership I decided to give them a shot. These are hands down the best facial wipes I have ever used and they’re really inexpensive. The bulk box of 150 wipes (broken down into 2 – 15 count travel size packs and 4 – 30 count regular size packs) costs around $12 at Costco. They leave my face feeling so clean and moisturized. I honestly don’t even feel like I need to wash my face after using the wipe but I always do anyway just because it’s a part of my nighttime routine. One of my favorite features is the resealable flip top lid which the Neutrogena wipes lacked. If you’re a Costco member I’d highly recommend trying these wipes!

Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream: I just started using this on a whim a few months ago when I saw it in our medicine cabinet. I never thought I would like a gel moisturizer but I actually prefer this to a traditional lotion moisturizer. I feel like my skin just drinks it up. I like that the gel soaks into my skin within a few minutes and doesn’t leave it sticky like some facial lotions. The gel formula leaves my skin soft and hydrated for a long period of time.

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment: I purchased this earlier this year by accident and it soon became a welcome mistake! This product does exactly what it’s supposed to. It helps stop or get rid of any pesky little bumps that decide to pop up.

Bottom L to R:

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural: I use this powder each and every time I do my makeup to set either my concealer, BB cream or foundation. It’s a little pricey but I love it!

MAC Powder Blush in Margin: Margin is a Holy Grail product for me. I use this blush every time I do my makeup over whatever other blush I choose for that day. Margin has a frost finish and adds a nice, healthy glow to the face without appearing overpowering. I can’t say enough good things about it!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer: This is one of the best concealers I’ve ever used! It gives great coverage without looking cakey and I love that I can use it all over my face. I have extremely red cheeks and terrible bags under my eyes. This concealer covers both problem areas with little effort needed!

Eyes

Top L to R:

Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Palette: I know the Urban Decay Naked palettes have a cult following and I agree, they’re great but this is my top palette pick. I would choose this palette over Naked or Naked 2 based on the fact that Eye on Neutral is all matte. When I was in high school I stuck to shimmery/satin shades but as I’m getting older I prefer matte shadows for daily use. I think this is a great palette for any makeup lover to have because it’s pretty rare to find an all matte eye shadow palette. Eye on Neutral can be found for $20 at Target or online at SoniaKashuk.com.

Benefit They’re Real Mascara: I never thought I’d be the type to spend $23 on a mascara but when I saw a before and after picture on Instagram featuring this product I was sold. This is currently my top high end mascara but I recently did get two other high end mascaras in different kits so I’m interested to see how those compare to They’re Real. All-in-all I would definitely purchase this product again, and again.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion: BEST. EYELINER. EVER. This is the blackest, darkest, creamiest, easiest to apply, longest lasting, best, best, best eyeliner ever. Perversion is worth the $19 price tag and if you haven’t tried it I highly suggest you splurge and pick it up ASAP!

Bottom L to R:

Urban Decay Brow Box in Honey Pot: I don’t know about you but my eyebrows are not my friends! They have a mind of their own! They like to grow in random places and not fill in completely. I never used to try to fill them in because I could never find a brow product that would match my hair without making me look crazy. Long story short, I went to Ulta and got matched to Honey Pot which is perfect for my brows! I like this specific brow duo because I’m able to use both powders depending on how dark or light my eye makeup is for that day.

MAC Eye Shadow in Soft Brown: I grab for this (matte) shade almost every time I use eye shadow to help blend out colors in my crease. It’s also perfect when I want just a simple one shadow look. On those days I just pop it in the crease, blend it out a bit and throw on some mascara. It’s just all around perfect!

Lips

Top:

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains: These might be my favorite lip product EVER. I have a full review you can find here and swatches of 9 out of the 12 shadows you can find here. You need them in your life, that’s all.

Bottom:

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm: I love Baby Lips lip balm so much for so many reasons. They have cute packaging, smell amazing, they are extremely long lasting and come in a variety of shades. My favorite shades are Pink Punch and the clear in Quenched.

Right:

MAC Viva Glam Nicki Lipglass: This is my favorite lipgloss/lipglass ever! It’s a super opaque Barbie pink and it’s just all around perfect. I am so, so, so sad that it is limited edition and I plan on buying two or three backups before it’s gone forever. Yes, I love it that much! *tears*

Nail Polish

Julie G – 9 to 5

China Glaze – I’m Not Lion

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear – Pacific Blue

Zoya – Storm

Hair

Top L to R:

Pantene Detangler: Who knew they made detangler for adults?! My long hair is such a pain to brush out so this has quickly become my new best friend.

Moroccan Argan Oil Penetrating Oil: I am in loveee with this oil! I apply a little over a nickel sized amount throughout my clean, damp hair and once my hair has dried completely it feels incredibly soft. This is another product I will continue to purchase over and over again.

Bottom L to R:

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle: I was never one for deep conditioners but 3 Minute Miracle is so affordable (only $3!!!) and amazing. You simply apply it to your hair, leave it for three minutes then rinse for amazing soft and conditioned hair. Since I don’t wash my hair everyday I’m able to use it every time I do but if you wash your hair everyday I’d recommend using this product every other or every two washes. Everyday might be a little much for your hair.

Music

Taylor Swift – Red Album: OBSESSED.

Frank Ocean – Thinkin Bout You: OBSESSED.

Hunter Hayes – Wanted: OBSESSED.

One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful: OBSESSED.

Television

Once Upon a Time (ABC): I think this might be my favorite show of all time. It has such an amazing storyline and I recommend it to each and every one of you, male or female. I actually watch it on Sunday nights with my step dad because we are kind of obsessed with it.

Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family): I think I speak for everyone who watches this show when I say it’s just plain addicting. I can’t stop watching!!!

Miscellaneous

Top L to R:

Keri Original Moisture Therapy Lotion: This is a random brand of lotion I had never heard of but I needed a new lotion and we had this in the house so I used it one day and now it’s my new favorite! It’s unbelievably hydrating and keeps my skin really soft for a long period of time which is something most lotions didn’t do for me.

Soft-soap Pomegranate Mango Body Wash: Smells amazing, you need it.

Bottom:

Mossimo T-Shirts: I’m a Plain Jane kind of girl so I’m a big fan of these t-shirts (I prefer without a pocket) from Target. They are a HUGE hit with me. I usually stock up on the new colors when they go on sale for either $6 or $7.

That’s all for 2012! If you have any favorites you’d like to share, leave a comment. I’d love to hear about your must haves from 2012!